Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-03-17
WHO FIGHT HIM9


e Is Certain. from the Testimony Given
Below, That the Actual Settlers Are Not
Opposing Land Commissioner Sparks
Land Commissioner Sparks is at the
bat, and his inning against the timber
claim thieves and the cattle barons of
the Territories will show up his case
and his rulings in a far different light
than the organs of monopoly have
'.panoramaed" them to the people of the
country, by means of manufactured
letters from reputed home-seekers and
homesteaders in the West. The
letters which denounced Sparks and
which were published in the sub
sidized organs of the cattle barons were
not from farmers, nor home
steaders. nor home seekers. They
were from land spectators who lived
east, west, north and south, and who
were represented in the Territories by
proxy. Since the fight on him by the
corporations and the syndicates began
Sparks has been delu,yed with letters
from actual settlers who indorse every
ruling he has made. And these letters
are now finding their way into print TO
the great chagrin and discontinue of
the men and the rings who have been
making war upon him. The letters
are signed by the writers, who give
their proper post-office address, and
who invite a correspondence with the
friends of the fault-finders. Below we
give few sentiments which are eX-
pressed in The letters from different
sections which have suffered, as the
organs have said, from Sparks rulings:
'Your order of ArpI s, 1885. meets with the
appreciation OF all good citizens in this land
ID. To OF golden grain Stand by ft-"vent!-
late the frauds" Your order works hard
ship on the honest settler-it is the rlscal tha>
objects to the inconven sencerof having his viii
lainy investigated" Your order is no det<i-
ment or disadvantage 10 the poorer classes
''sne bulk OF our bona fide settlers"-'1t is
their salvation" ''Your orders have Aet with
the approval of every bona fide resident
keep Oh with the work you have so nobly in
augurated.' 1.-The people OF this vicinity weld
County, COLI hail with JOY your hand rulings"
I'VE feel great pride in the fearless and fair
administration Of the Land Department"
''Your rulings are q move in the right direction,
fully onc-fourth OF all land claims in
this district Huron, D. To- are more
or less fraudulent" What difference does
1t make whether lands are patented
in one OF ten years to people hon
estly seeking homes, il is only the land
thieves who fight against you" THE actual
farmers are not afraid OF any decisions you have
rendered - I'VE farmers do indorse your ac-
lions and decisions and will stand by you
1--WE, the farmers and citizens of Broolzings and
Moody Counties, D. T.. JON in declaring your
rulings just and proper and for the best protec-
tion of farmers and actual settlers, but bitter
dose TO those residing in towns and holding
claims II feel deeply interested in this grand
work. as this question of homes for our chill
dren will absorb our action in the near future. "
keep up your hcks." ~ have had my final re-
ceipt for over year but de not growl at your
not issuing patents" stand by your rulings
no honest man is complaining; only the rogues
are hurt You hit the Dall on the head. and,
judging from the way the agents and attorneys
squirm, you hit il hard ''Give the honest
poor man a chance" 1.-The money loaners and
land thieves are the only ones who howl"
1t takes time, patience and persever-
ance to catch and corner a thief when
the scoundrel sought has been given
are generally caught and sometimes
| punished. Sparks has been derided
and lied about in the public prints more
than any other official in The Govern
ment service. Those who have derided
and lied about him are the agents, the
| attorneys and the principals, who have
been obliged to loosen their fraudulent
grips on large and small slices of the
public domain. Literally he has not
been crashed to earth. but he Is rising
again in the popular esteem he enjoyed
before the cattle barons and the land
agents took an inning against him.
| DeS MoineS Leader.